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Urban Exploration: Exploring Adelaide’s Chamber Of Secrets

DISCLAIMER: I dug through my archives to piece together the pictures for this post. I stress that these are not recent and are now several years old.Please do not message me asking how to gain access to the building as I do not know and must discourage you from trying to do so.

No Adelaide urbex discussion is complete without touching on Gawler Chambers. For those new on the scene, it stands as a taunting temptress – an obvious exploring opportunity in the heart of the CBD. It must be noted that there are some in the community who had quiet access to the building for many, many years. Unfortunately, this quiet access came to a rather abrupt end when the media spotlight was shone upon the building after a news crew was invited to do a story on a group of Adelaide explorers. I bear them no ill will – we all have different agendas and motivations for exploring. However, the news coverage and resultant increased attention prompted the building owners to change locks, board up windows and barricade doors. The Chambers became even more difficult to infiltrate.

Built in 1913 as the headquarters for The South Australian Company who played a major role in the foundation of the state of South Australia. Ownership remained with The South Australian Company until 1945 when it changed hands to current owners, Adelaide Development Company. The South Australian Company played a huge role in both the foundation of the colony as well as the establishment of various industry and enterprises. However, by the time Gawler Chambers was built, the company was in decline. Although the South Australian Company owned the building, they only occupied the western end four rooms of the first floor, with the remainder of the offices leased out to surgeons, doctors, dentists and dressmakers, who made up the bulk of the occupants. Evidence of these past tenants remain today.

The building itself features some ornate Art Nouveau aspects with quality brickwork and cement dressings. The main entrance is finished using granite and freestone. An additional storey was added to the original building in 1935. Originally, the building had many balconies but these were removed in 1965. The overall design mixes Gothic/Tudor and classical elements. There is a castellated ‘Tudor’ parapet over the central projecting section that forms part of the entry on the ground level of the building. The interior contains cedar work, part of which has been transferred from the South Australian Company’s former building (which stood on this same site from 1842 – 1913) to the company’s Gawler Chambers offices that were situated on the western end of the first floor. Unfortunately, only a few remainders of nineteenth-century elements are left internally due to alterations being conducted throughout the years.

Gawler Chambers is listed on the SA State Heritage Register. Plans have been floated several times to repurpose the building (the most recent involving a gutting of the interior and erection of a modern glass office tower) but have yet to formalise. Given the prominent location and history attached to the building it is a shame to watch it slowly deteriorate and not be somehow accessible to all visitors to Adelaide. Internally, damage from vandals and squatters is evident throughout. Water penetration, pigeon infestation and general age-related rot have taken their toll. Unfortunately, she’s now a far cry from her former glory, a shadow of her former abandoned beauty and, in my opinion, something of an anti-climax for those keen enough to attempt access.

I have actually walked past this building before when I’ve been in Adelaide! I remember thinking it looked kinda abandoned, and I took some arty attempt at a medium format photo through the padlocked gate on the right side of the building’s exterior. That would have been in early 2010. Damn, I should have tired harder to find a way in! What a stunning building. It’s a shame it’s just been left to rot – that seems to happen all to often to beautiful old buildings in Australia (definitely in Melbourne). It’d be a shame for it to just be transformed into another soulless glass highrise. Your shots are really great also; well done!

Unlike the nearby Gallerie aecade Gawler Chambers was allready looking a bit tired when I visited in the 1980s & 90s. from the early 1910s till the mid 20s This + the nearby Virgo building would have towered over everything else on North Tce. Next came the taller Liberal Club Building
( alongside the Virgo), Security House & the Masonic Lodge ( with no upstairs windows to keep the Freemasons activities secret ?) All 3 buildings up around 1925-7 and giants for 1920s Adelaide.

I never noticed how dominant Security house was until it’s 1950s neighbour, Elizabeth House came down , in 2016. Take you photos cause it will be overshadowed by Eliz House replacement

It would make an awesome horror movie film set. It definitely needs to be renovated and repurposed. If someone has the money, I have the imagination to make it a bustling feature bringing more commerce to Adelaide. I love the old joint. I spent years walking past it on my way to uni. It never failed to stimulate my imagination. So many ideas for that building.

My father was the Secretary of Adelaide Development Company and at some stage the flagpoles were removed from the front of the building. I think it would have bee about 1946. He took one of them home intending to put it up, but never did. When I built my home at Glenalta, the first thing I did when the front lawn was established was to install the flagpole. It has been standing there for 54 years.

It is still as it was except that the top had to have a centre piece put in as it had deteriated due to weather on the bolt that retained it to the pole. Hopefully it will be passed on though the family..

Published by Autopsy of Adelaide

Adelaide, South Australia based Urban explorer and photographer. Exposing the hidden worlds behind the boarded up doors, below your feet and above your heads. Primarily focussed on Urban Exploration (Urbex) in Adelaide and South Australia, but travelling wherever the abandonment takes me!
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